In a case brought on behalf of nine schoolchildren, Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu wrote in a decision released Tuesday morning that the evidence "shocks the conscience" and that "there is also no dispute that there are a significant number of grossly ineffective teachers currently active in California classrooms."

But enforcement of the much-awaiting ruling will be delayed pending an appeal by the lawsuit's defendants, the state and California's two major teachers unions.

The plaintiffs in the case, known as Vergara vs. California, hailed the ruling as a historic decision. "This is a monumental day for California's public education system," lead co-counsel Theodore J. Boutros Jr. said. "By striking down these irrational laws, the court has recognized that all students deserve a quality education."

Union spokesman Fred Glass said, "The millionaires behind this case have successfully diverted attention from the real problems of public education."

The lawsuit was brought by Students Matter, a group funded largely by businessman Dave Welch of Atherton. As the trial began in January, Welch said, "Children deserve to have a passionate, effective teacher in every classroom."

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A father of three who co-founded optical telecommunications system firm Infinera, Welch has been active in school reform.

The lawsuit was based on California's constitutional protections, but drew national attention for challenge to tenure, a job protection widely granted to teachers and academics. Critics call it a lifetime job guarantee that entrenches ineffective instructors and stymies better teaching and learning; supports say the practice protects teachers from capricious firing and discipline.

The suit argued that California's laws protecting teachers deny students, particularly those in poor communities, equal access to quality education. Plaintiffs alleged that schools serving poor students have more teachers with less seniority, and therefore are more likely to lose teachers during seniority-based layoffs. As a result, those schools suffer from higher turnover and more inexperienced and ineffective teachers.

The suit also challenged the state requirement that school districts make decisions on tenure after a teacher has had about 18 months on the job -- thus denying districts adequate time to determine a teacher's competence.

Moreover, because of cumbersome dismissal procedures, Students Matter said, in 10 years only 91 of California's teachers, who now number 285,000, have been fired, most for inappropriate conduct. And, the group noted that only 19 were dismissed for unsatisfactory performance.

The unions called the lawsuit a threat to due process, such as the right to a pre-dismissal hearing, and to protections from arbitrary or unfair administrators. Union attorneys called the lawsuit a waste of taxpayer dollars and harmful to students.

The schoolchildren plaintiffs included Daniella Martinez of San Jose, Brandon Debose Jr., of Oakland, and Kate Elliott of San Carlos. The lead plaintiff, Beatriz Vergara, and five others live in Southern California.

Daniella's mother, Karen Martinez, said before the trial, "This is our chance for change." She and her husband moved five times seeking quality schools for their seven children.